The West Coast Eagles were handed a 14-point loss to the Power on Saturday night, and after a number of missed opportunities walked away ruing what might have been had they kicked more efficiently.
After a see-sawing battle, and a number of lead changes, it was the Power who finished off the better. Booting three goals to one in the last quarter, courtesy of 22 inside 50s to six, the Power dominated last quarter to overrun the Eagles 10.10 (70) to 7.14 (56) in front of 35,366 fans.
Let’s look back at some of the big moments from the tight clash at Patersons Stadium.
VIDEO: Good pressure opens the account
The Eagles forward pressure may have dropped slightly in 2013, but it has returned this year and is paying dividends. After sustaining a high-level of pressure, the power eventually cracked as they brought it out of defence. Hutchings flicked the ball to Priddis who sent the ball into the 50 once more, Jack Darling was front and square and quickly sent the ball wide to a running Sharrod Wellingham who slotted the tricky goal from the forward pocket to get the ball rolling for the Eagles.
With the ball deep in the Eagles forward line, there were men all over the place as they battled for possession on the ground. Eventually Scott Selwood, an in-and-under specialist, grabbed the ball and flicked out a sharp hand pass out to Dean Cox. Cox swiftly turned on a dime and snapped the ball through, to level the scores early in the second term.
VIDEO: Darling scrounges a goal to level the scores
The Eagles were pressing after the Power shot out to an early lead. Jack Darling ran onto the loose ball in the forward line, and promptly tried to bustle free of a Power tackle with no avail. Looking to clear the ball the Power were besieged by Eagles forwards, and were forced into another error, with Darling swooping on the errant hand pass to kick it through to level the scores again.
VIDEO: Masten ends the drought
They call the third quarter the premiership quarter, and both teams went out in the third term playing like a flag was up for grabs. It took nearly 15 minutes for a goal to be registered and it came off the back off hard work. The Eagles cleared to the ball to the wing, with Jack Darling flying over the pack to take the mark. Cox then used his unrivalled running capacity to spread from the contest, and Darling was quick to use him at half-forward. Cox drew a fast approaching opponent, popped the ball over the top to Josh Kennedy who then drew his man and flicked the ball to a free Chris Masten. Masten booted the first goal of the third term, and put the Eagles 10 points clear of the Power.
